Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper Liqueur
Brilliant, deep mahogany/burnt orange color. Once you nose this spirit the new addition is quite evident as sharp pepper notes, courtesy of Tabasco, rises from the glass. On the palate the entry is equal parts sweet peaches and vibrant Tabasco flavors. Soon the pepper takes over and runs strong through the finish and beyond as the Tabasco heat lingers for minutes after the spirit has been swallowed. Medium-bodied and a bit disjointed with intense heat. If you are not in a college bar you will likely never have to encounter this product.$17 – 2 Stars
William Wolf Frisky Flavored Whisk(e)y
Brilliant bronze color. The nose is filled with the sweet scent of caramel, butterscotch, and cashew brittle with accents of brown sugar. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a very sweet, caramel-forward core with flanking notes of toffee. Medium-bodied with sweet caramel and Liqueur proportions. $24.99 – 3 Stars
William Wolf Coffee Flavored Whisk(e)y
Brilliant mahogany color. The nose is filled with the scent of roasted coffee beans, toasted mixed nuts, and black patent malt with hints of caramel and brown sugar. The palate echoes the nose delivering a bright coffee/espresso-core with flanking notes of brown sugar that transition to drier finish that for the first time shows this spirit's Whiskey base. Medium-bodied with vibrant coffee notes with the sugar well in check with a dose of acidity and dry Whiskey notes. $24.99 – 4 Stars
Toast Vodka with Coconut Water Flavored Vodka
Crystal Clear. The aromatics are quite subtle save an earthy, coconut husk scent with waves of mineral as well. The palate is equally subtle with a silky core and flanking notes of dry coconut and mineral with hot spirity notes rising on the finish being met by the earthy tones found on the nose. Medium-bodied with a silky, slightly chewy center and long lingering pepper and earth notes. $31 – 3 Stars
Three Meadows Peony Flavored Vodka
Crystal clear. The aromatics are quite beautiful offering scents of wild flowers, jasmine tea, vanilla bean, and subtle tropical fruits. The palate echoes the nose while becoming a great deal more animated lifting the beautiful floral mélange to new heights by delivering a lightly sweet essence of the aromatics with a subtle citrus edge on the finish that gives balance and length. Medium-bodied with semisweet floral notes expanding on the palate while showing perfect balance. $33 – 4 Stars
Crop Organic Spiced Pumpkin Flavored Vodka
Deep golden color with orange undertones and visible viscosity. The aromatics are unmistakably pumpkin with loads of traditional brown baking spices and a mild lactic, cream cheese like accent. The palate echoes the nose remaining as dry as the aromatics as well with a trailing note of cola. Full-bodied with rich flavors being drier and more vibrant than expected. $30 – 3 Stars
Booker's Batch 2016-03 6 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is incredibly complex and subtle in some respects with rich vanilla and brown baking spices supported by waves of fruit, toasted oak, and brown butter with caramel. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush and silky vanilla-driven core with generous fruit, brown baking spices, and rich caramel notes that linger for minutes. Full-bodied and so incredibly silky and lush while also showing balance and restraint. $59.99 – 5 Stars
Booker's Big Time Batch Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nosing at full strength shows dense fruit and spice notes with sweet caramel but a big blast of alcohol as well. With the addition of water it really blossoms revealing nuanced scents of banana bread, rich caramel with allspice, black pepper, cloves, ginger, orange peel, vanilla bean, and star anise. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich and powerful core of fruit and spice with countess barrel notes and a long, trailing finish that becomes drier as it fades. Full-bodied and quite aggressive with its nearly 70% abv but it does become a more gentle giant with the addition of water. $299.99 – 5 Stars
Knob Creek Limited Edition – Batch 1 2001 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics offered by this Bourbon are so rich and seductive that it's hard to stop nosing. The dense toffee, caramel, and baked fruit notes are perfectly married and jump from the glass (especially after a water dose). Supporting notes of charred oak, brown baking spices, and vanilla. The palate echoes the nose with a decadent, sweet fruit, caramel and nut core supported by brown spices and pepper that become drier and more wood forward on the finish. Full-bodied with the rich baked fruits and spices carrying the higher proof with ease and style. $129.99 – 4.5 Stars
RE:FIND Batch No. 3 Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is unmistakably rye with loads of brown baking spices delivered at near parity and hints of vanilla bean. The palate echoes the nose delivering a round, slightly viscous sweet grain core with loads of baking spices and the vanilla found on the nose taking a bigger role while it mingles with caramel. Full-bodied with a prominent sense of alcohol due to the over-proof bottling strength. $60 – 3.5 Stars
